Virtual Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Myoko-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Myoko-ji Temple was founded in Sashiogi Village, Adachi County, Musashi Province. Its main deity is Bhaisajyaguru. It is unknown where the #31 deity of the Adachi Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, an Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha statue is enshrined.

     A ritual Shinto prayer was recited when a periodic market was held. The prayer Yashio City keeps was first documented on September 9th, 1361, and includes the names of 33 markets including that in Sashiogi. The markets were distributed in the estuary of the Iruma, Watarase, Ara, and Tone Rivers, which was the border area between Musashi and Shimousa Provinces.

     In Izumo Province, today's Shimane Peninsula used to be an island in the Jomon Period (BC 14000-BC 10th century). The Hi River filled the shallows between the Old Shimane Island and Honshu, and the Izumo Plain was formed about 10,000 years ago. Rice growing arrived, and people there accumulated experience to change marshes and swamps into rice fields. When Wakatarashihiko was the Emperor in the 4th century, he appointed governors in remote provinces and put up warehouses of tax rice there. Etakehi, who was from Izumo Province, was dispatched to Musashi Province. With this experience, Etakehi arrived at Musashi Province. There, he or his offspring founded Hikawa Shrine, namely Hi River Shrine. In the Jomon Period, Muashino Plateau's east side faced the sea, and the Iruma, Ara, and Tone Rivers ran into the sea at the foot of the plateau until 4,000 years ago, when the Ara and Tone Rivers started running along the east side of Omiya Plateau. Anyway, Etakehi and his offspring tried to control the floods between the Musashino and Omiya Plateaus.

     A Hikawa Shrine in Sashiogi is said to be one of the earliest branches of the original Hikawa Shrine. It means the area was developed quite early. According to its oral history, its office was built in 796, and was caught in fire in 823. It was rebuilt in 885. In 796, To-ji Temple was founded in Kyoto. In 823, Kukai (774-835) was given To-ji Temple by Emperor Saga (786-842), who resigned in the same year.

Address: 1824 Sashiogi, Nishi Ward, Saitama, Saitama 331-0047

Phone: 048-622-8840